Category Archives: inthenews

Insecurity from New York

Leave a reply



photo by etchasketchist

MgGuff points out: The New York Times covers the impending release of the iPhone, and can only say bad things. (“That iPhone Has a Keyboard, but It’s Not Mechanical” – John Markoff, June 13) Even the title sounds condescending: “That iPhone”! And he’s expounding upon “news” we’ve known for six months.

Is this true objective analysis, or is there some CA v NY in there? Are they resentful of Apple’s recent business acumen?

They try to tie the dead weight of Apple’s Worst Design Decision Evarâ„¢: the one button mouse. <sarcasm>We know that cost them a Billion dollars, just like they warn this will.</sarcasm>

The first quote of the piece shows an insecurity that seems quite fragile – without a keyboard, I’m afraid. Is this a true umbilical need Americans now have of technology (that it be rigid and unchanging?), or is an analyst just trying to show that he’s smarter than Steve Jobs?

“The tactile feedback of a mechanical keyboard is a pretty important aspect of human interaction,” said Bill Moggeridge, a founder of Ideo, an industrial design company in Palo Alto, Calif. “If you take that away you tend to be very insecure.”

Though, the article does finally represent the crux of the matter, two-thirds through the piece with an attributed unquote: “Dispensing with a physical keyboard has given software an increased importance over hardware in product design.”

This is the true key. If there is a perceived problem in the product – and this is version 1.0, so there will be – you don’t have to sell them the fixed product, you just rev the software.

Full NYT article cached: Continue reading →

Europeans Like Houston’s Look

Leave a reply

I was twice riding my bicycle downtown in the past two weeks to experience several blocks of downtown closed to traffic. It was obvious it was a movie or TV shoot. I had an agenda, so I didn’t linger to find out.

photo Steve Campbell:Houston ChronicleI was almost right; it was a TV commercial shoot. For German cell phones.

There was an article about some of the reasons that Europeans and Asian like doing photo shoots in Houston. One of the reason was many reflective buildings that do a very good job of lighting automobiles.

So, apparently the Europeans like the “look” of Houston. They may not know it, but their marketeers do.

The whole story is worth reading:

Lights, Camera, Houston!

Producers of commercials say architecture is photogenic

By TINA MARIE MACIAS
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
June 4, 2007, 10:01AM

Around lunch hour, strolling down Travis Street, it’s fairly normal to see pedestrians slowing traffic as they cross the street, talk on their cell phones and move at a bovine pace.

But recently it was a little slower than usual at Travis and Rusk. Maybe it was the variation of He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands blasting on the corner. Or the screens covering the sidewalk, or the large video camera blocking pedestrians’ stride. Something strange was happening. Continue reading →

Angus Litigation

Leave a reply

“Could you point to the Angus area?”

Cow DiagramI recently saw this Jack in the Box ad, and was mildly humored. They are selling their 100% sirloin burger, and backhandedly mocking the 100% Angus burger. I vaguely recalled someone advertising their Angusness but didn’t recall it being Carl Jr. (There aren’t any of those in the Houston area.)

I recall thinking mockingly “someone’s gonna sue for that”. And they did! The Language Log is wholeheartedly mocking them. They deserve it.

People moan about “litigious Americans”, but the vast majority of lawsuits are brought about by corporations, not individuals.  “Businesses file four times more lawsuits than private citizens and are sanctioned much more often for frivolous suits.”  It isn’t surprising, since corporations generally behave psychotically (trailer, part 1 of 23).

I don’t expect this lawsuit will go anywhere.

Texas Legislature: Too Many Poor People Voting

Leave a reply

Voting BoothLast Thursday the Chron PolitBlog called Texas Voter Fraud “a lie”.  Friday the national media was writing an article on the stealthy disappearance of the American Center for Voting Rights.  (An organization who was trying to sell us on rampant voter fraud.)  Meanwhile the still Republican-controlled Texas Legislature was swinging their scepter to “protect us” from. . . something.

Galveston Judge Susan Criss chimed in with her support of Senator Gallegos, who against the will of his doctor was transported to Austin to keep the voting margin viable.  The Houstonist informs that he can now return home to recover from his recent surgery.

The outrageous voter suppression bill did not pass the House by Wednesday midnight and the Lt. Governor has declared it procedurally dead. May it Rest in Peace! (and pieces)

Rail Line Treasure Hunt

8 Replies

2007 Scavenger HuntThe TMi page of the Star section of the Chron printed a 10 picture and clue scavenger hunt on Wednesday, all of which is along the light rail line. Of course I helped host, with Andrea Greer and Allen Hill, a scavenger hunt in January. The ending location and the cover of the CD which accompanied the hunt is one of the photos in the Chron’s hunt.

I have the time, I may play this one for the fun of it. I think I know 4 of them already.